Recommended Posts

Throughout the history of the internet, Messageboards have been one of the foundational tools people have used to connect with like-minded individuals on the web from all over the world. They have stood the test time, predating the AOL Craze, Myspace, and lasting into what we know as the current generation of Social Media with Powerhouses like Facebook and Twitter. The ability for Online-Forums to last so long is the need for people to have meaningful discussions with a form of depth and anonymity that other forms of Social Media cannot not provide.

While the heydey of forums can be considered to be over, the continual prominence of several large messageboard that cover all niches of life speak to their importance even in today’s climate. One of the world’s largest and most active websites ‘Reddit’ is a Messageboard. Several prominent forums like Boxden, BlackHairCair, and Kanyetothe.com, have thousands of active members who readily contribute often controversial opinions to different takes on Social Events in Urban Culture. Forum’s still have a unique ability to unite groups of people and provide a depth of information and discussion not often found on certain subjects.

One thing that is lacking, are large and prominent Black-Owned Forums. It is even quite hard to find a time in the history of the internet when a true black forum could be considered one of the Top even in the niche of Black Websites. If we take a look at the largest ‘Urban’ (and I call it this instead of ‘Black’ sites for a reason) like the ones mentioned in the previous paragraph, and add in a few others like Lipstick Alley, The Coli, and Topix African-American Forum, we can go as far as to say that the majority of these sites are owned by non-black entities.

That’s why we want to provide a list of the best True Black Forums on the internet, ones that are really Black-Owned, and that facilitate positive discussions and representations of the Black Community

Did you think we wouldn’t mention ourselves? The newest forum out of all the ones mentioned, it could be argued that it deserves a place near the top of this list. But to be fair-and-balanced (since we are writing this article after all) we will leave it off the official standings. The Black Board opened in early 2016 and has already established itself quickly as one of the best places on the internet where Black People can discuss a variety of issues under a Black-Owned Umbrella. The Black Board focuses on general discussion on News and Social Issues, and also on everyday experiences in Life. The owner of the website is active in the local and national Black Activism community and partners with a variety of other Black Websites and Media Content Creators. They also have a great form of community currency that encourages interactions.

Black Visions is one of the oldest sites on this list. They describe themselves as “your go-to place to experience news, information, entertainment, and political discussion with black people from all around the globe. Post your thoughts on a modern, efficient bulletin board software system, with a full suite of text editing, emotes, pictures, and videos. Connect with your black brothers and sisters everywhere at any time, with our message board.”

Black Visions focuses on more serious discussions, often on political topics. They also feature a system of closed membership that vets potential members. This allows them to closely control the quality of discussions and enforce anti-Black trolling.

The Cocoa Lounge is a O.G. on this list. Around for over a decade, it has managed to remain at the forefront of Black Forums and maintain, while many other sites have come and gone. The Cocoa Lounge specializes in discussions that involve Black Literature, Poetry, Spirituality, Current Events, and Celebrities. While not as active as some of the other sites on this list it has years of an incredible backlog of great discussions due to it being a mainstay for such a long time. The Cocoa Lounge has more than earned it’s spot in this conversation.

SomaliSpot is technically the newest forum officially on this list, but they are by far the most active. They broke out of long established messageboard SomaliNet just a few years ago and already have appeared to supplant that site as the Premiere discussion forum for the Somali People on the internet. A general discussion board that focuses on conversations going on in Somali Culture, the site as already proven to have a influential reach, with discussions there going viral and even spilling over into News Stories that effect real life situations, going as far as Elected Public Officials. This site also may be the most controversial on here as well because of some of these situations, but there is no denying SomaliSpot and it’s Owner appear to have etched their mark in The Online World of The Somali People in a short time, which deserves respect on it’s own.

AALBC is unique in this list because they specifically focus on African-American Books & Literature. This also gives them their strength, as you will be hard pressed to find a forum with more mature discussions from a Black userbase on the internet. Also focusing on Cultural and Racial Discussions, AALBC puts a spotlight on journalists and writers in the Black Community, with a dedicated owner who is respected in the field and also covers events that he features on the site. AALBC is about educating and networking, and the importance of that work in the Black Community gives them their well-deserved spot as #2 on this list.

The Granddaddy (Grandmother) of all Black Forums, past or present, on the internet. There was absolutely no question that Destee would perch itself at the very top of this list. Around for almost 20 years, Destee.com is the trailblazer for all Black Forums on the web. The namesake of the forum’s owner (Sister Destee, one the most respected Black figures online) Destee is the number one place on the web for no-nonsense, 100% pro-black, discussions. The greatness of Destee lies not just in it’s ability to stand the test of time, but also by without hesitation eliminating any negative conversations or members that wish to harm the black community. Although heavily moderated, and not as active as other sites on this list, Destee has more than earned it’s spot as the leader of Black Forums, period. We look forward to 20 more years of seeing Destee remain one of the Best Places online Period for Black People!

My first post of Black Visions was rejected. The message indicated the folder was full. I uploaded the image below and a couple of sentences about the image awards. The site is also very slow. I suspect it is the server they are using (a problem I'm very familiar with)

Desteelooks like the most interesting forum of the bunch. I read their rules and one struck me, "No Staying Here Complaining About How You Don't Like Us." At first glance, a rule like this would seem to make no sense, but if you've moderated a discussion forum you get it right away. :-)

At any rate, I probably won't share the article as I original wrote. I simply can't vouch for all of the forums, but I will check out Destee and the Blackboard and share and interesting posts I discover from time to time.

Sites like these are important to the variety of content available on the web.

Guest Mass media Psyops on blks

Guest Mass media Psyops on blks

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Ibani

Guest Ibani

I am a budding T-shirt designer leaning towards the idea of empowering black youth, by way of messages which encourage self esteem, and self empowerment. These are some of my designs. Please let me know what you think.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Peaches35

Guest Peaches35

I really like The Black-Board. I just wish that it was a little more active. I’ve read throughout many threads from 2017 and it was so booming with such great dialogues. I’m going to hang in there and maybe things will change for the better. I used to be a long standing member of Blackvisions, but I’m done with that site. It’s a shame that a message board that originated as being so much fun and that was so originally productive and informative ended up turning so negative and ugly.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest Peaches35

Guest Peaches35

Also, I feel that a message board needs a active administrator who gets involved and shuts down members and moderators who are demeaning and hurtful to other members, as opposed to sitting on the sideline and watching drama go down and doing nothing. This was the case on Blackvisions. I’d never become active on that site again if it were the last message board on the internet

My first post of Black Visions was rejected. The message indicated the folder was full. I uploaded the image below and a couple of sentences about the image awards. The site is also very slow. I suspect it is the server they are using (a problem I'm very familiar with)

Desteelooks like the most interesting forum of the bunch. I read their rules and one struck me, "No Staying Here Complaining About How You Don't Like Us." At first glance, a rule like this would seem to make no sense, but if you've moderated a discussion forum you get it right away. 🙂

At any rate, I probably won't share the article as I original wrote. I simply can't vouch for all of the forums, but I will check out Destee and the Blackboard and share and interesting posts I discover from time to time.

Sites like these are important to the variety of content available on the web.

The black-board is cool. It’s just not very active, but it seems like a lot of message boards are this way. If I could get a gang of folks to register on that site, I would, but I don’t know many people who are into message boards. Check it out. You may love it!

Share on other sites

Guest Veni Vidi Vici

Guest Veni Vidi Vici

Same here. I had been there from day-one until going on about a month ago. What a sad, sad ending for a place that a good many called cyber "home" since 2007. From about late June or July until quite recently, it was like watching a bird die excruciatingly slow. Why? Any of a few number of reasons from logging-in issues like you'd not believe to the final stake in the message board's heart, imho. Allowing porno. That contributed in a big way and not just porno for prono's sake. Full tile boogie porno with white women on a black-themed message board no less and dicks a'plenty to boot no less. I'm no prude, but just shit! White coochie on a black message board where the majority of the members had been BLACK WOMEN?! You can guess how that went over. 😡That's when a good few of us saw the handwriting on the wall for damn sure.

I could go on, but lets just leave it there. RIP, Black Visions. It was hella and one wild party while it lasted.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Today I actually participate on two other forums besides this one, Lipstick Alley, most in the Book Alley Forum and Nubian Planet which I started using very recently.

I over the last several years I spent too much time with the massive corporate sites while the sites I enjoy and want to see grow are disappearing. SO going forward I'm going to spend my limited time supporting these types of sites.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I just revisited the sites ranked by @theblackboard to start this conversation and found that 1/2 of the discussion forums mention are dead:

The Black Board Community Forum (www.theblack-board.com) The domain name redirects to another website. A search on the community name yields no results. So I assume this discussion forum is no longer active.

Black Visions (www.blackvisions.org/) The link from the homepage to the community is broken. After finding an alternative path to the discussion forum, I see that the most recent post is from August of 2018.

Cocoa Lounge (www.cocoalounge.org/) The URL to this website is no longer active and is currently redirected to an unrelated website.

.

SomaliSpot.com (www.somalispot.com) This forum is still active and quite good. I just updated my profile and replied to a post. It looks quite good it is obviously Somali-centric, but like AALBC.com is does not matter where you are from. Just don't try any silly Somali pirate jokes.

Destee (www.destee.com) Destee is still active and judging the site quickly. It's designation as the #1 discussion forum is deserved. I updated my account on this website and introduced myself.

Well the status of Black owned discussion forums, despite a couple of bright spots continues to get worse and is looking rather grim. The corporate run alternatives, as I always say, will never ever serve us.

I'll keep AALBC.com's discussion forum going as long as there are people who read it and folks who contribute to it.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest devotion2heart

Guest devotion2heart

blackvisions is still there.https://blackvisions.org/Community/index.php but all us long term members let awhile back. its nothing but racist trolls and ads now. lipstickalley IS own and run by white folks and white/biracial trolls pretending to be black. hence all the anti BM/BW comments and topics. im looking for a new home. but it seems they all own by white folk or loaded with pretend "black" members :cool:

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest ZealotX

Guest ZealotX

I personally contacted the hosting company to get BlackVisions shut down. Why? I was a long time poster and the forum was completely taken over by racist trolls which I think is a purposeful form of cyber warfare and "cyber terrorism". As much as I don't want them to win or gain ground, anyone operating an online forum cannot give up. Ask for more help. Do whatever you have to do to secure your site. They're taking advantage of the fact that operators are using software developed by a third-party and therefore can't really do much or anything to alter it. This is a racist attack on black people and what we need are people who were members of these attacked forums, and black people in IT fields to come together to create a secure website that we can heavily moderate to protect our free speech from hate and harassment.

I am a web developer. If anyone is interested please message me on FB (Jonathan Sinclair, Dayton OH). And if you're not black and you're using this list in order to find new targets and you think you can embed yourself into whatever new group that may come out of this, know that I will be screening and if you don't pass the screen I will record whatever FB account used to contact me and any other relevant details.

For the racist trolls out there, If you combine the USA, China, India, Europe and Japan - they all fit into the continent of Africa. The US can fit comfortably no less than three times. The UK can fit into Africa over 120 times. This is to say that we aren't going anywhere. And if you trace your DNA back to its beginning, you will find that you too came from Africa. I'm sure you have friends that make you feel like its cool to attack or make fun of people who are different from you and maybe attacking and bullying others without empathy makes you feel big. I don't know why you do it. But if you cannot, by your lone self, walk up to me on the street, and say to my face, what you spout on the internet, hiding behind a screen, then you're not a man. And it's not that you are somehow inferior because of your skin, because you're not. You're personally inferior because of your fear. And that's your problem, not anyone else's. So be a troll, if you want to, but at least bullies at school are at least brave enough to reveal their identity to the kid they're bullying. You hide because you are weak and scared. And if you're reading this, and getting mad, why? I'm only talking to weak scared little trolls who don't have enough success and happiness in their lives that they feel like they must try to hurt others. But you're not hurting us. You only annoy us and that's why no one takes you seriously.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Well Guest ZealotX you do not exaggerate regarding racist trolls. Which is a subset of all forms of spammers and hackers

I had to shut down an entire domain where the forum previously resided http://thumperscorner.com because if trolls. The site never recovered in terms of participation after I was forced to migrated it here.

It was very disappointing because the Trolls won that battle. Racist trolls come at me personally from time to time spamming my comments section on the site creating racists memes of me. Even sending me hate mail -- physical mail.

It is the wild west here on the net. There is no law and no one will come to your aid. It is every man for themselves. This is one of many reasons why Blacks sites struggle including this one.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Well Guest ZealotX you do not exaggerate regarding racist trolls. Which is a subset of all forms of spammers and hackers

I had to shut down an entire domain where the forum previously resided http://thumperscorner.com because if trolls. The site never recovered in terms of participation after I was forced to migrated it here.

It was very disappointing because the Trolls won that battle. Racist trolls come at me personally from time to time spamming my comments section on the site creating racists memes of me. Even sending me hate mail -- physical mail.

It is the wild west here on the net. There is no law and no one will come to your aid. It is every man for themselves. This is one of many reasons why Blacks sites struggle including this one.

Oh shit, I'm not surprised but I am shocked if that makes sense. For some reason or another, I kind of thought that you and others were safe on here from verbal racism. I've never actually seen any , that's why I assumed it didn't exist. You obviously delete them. But to attack you personally , perhaps vis your email........

These scummy b******s seriously need to get a life.

Theres a good few that comment on Karen Hunters and Roland Martins You Tube channels too.